BROOME KIDS NOMINATED FOR NATIONAL INDIGENOUS MUSIC AWARD FOR BME YOUNGNZ VIDEO

A group of five Kimberley children have been recognised on a national level for their Broome-themed music video and their mentors are hoping it will inspire other at-risk youth to voice their experiences through song.

The group from Broome, 2,000 kilometres north of Perth, is nominated for Community Clip of the Year at the National Indigenous Music Awards for their music video titled BME YOUNGNZ.

The clip features the work of aspiring musicians Grayson, Cassius, Richard, Cruz and Darren who are aged between 11 and 14.

Grayson starred in the video and said he enjoyed writing his own lyrics and filming on location.

"It was good … going out to Crab Creek," he said.

Cassius said other kids he knew thought the clip was good and his favourite part was filming some action shots.

"Jumping off the bridge, doing backflips on Cable Beach," he said.

Both were excited to be nominated and looked forward to getting autographs at the awards from their favourite artists.

Broome Youth and Families Hub (BYFH) Youth Services Manager Chris McCrory said making the music video was a way to engage the group of kids – who were classified as "extremely at risk" – through the Youth Reconnect program and Target 120. 

"It gives them a chance to sort of express their identity, to be included in something, participate, and just really put their culture down, which was amazing," he said.

"The media they normally get in Broome is very negative and so this has just given them a chance to change that narrative into something positive."

The video was shared widely on social media, which led to the award nomination.

'Celebrate the wins'

On Friday BYFH held a celebration for the kids that was attended by their families, mentors and community members.

West Kimberley Magistrate Deen Potter attended the celebration and said youth programs in the region were beginning to gain traction thanks to the hard work of employed mentors and role models.

"These programs are not the solution to all the challenges that these children and families face, and setbacks will be encountered," he said.

"But if the community persists and buys in, then real, positive and long-term change can be effected."

Mr McCrory said other kids have asked to be part of the next video and that it was a proud moment for the boys and their families to see their creative expression recognised nationally.

"A lot of our young people find it hard to stand up and talk or ask for help or say that they're struggling," he said.

"With music, it gives them a chance to just voice how they're feeling in a way that they feel comfortable with."

BYFH business operations manager Monty Mackenzie said it was important to celebrate the achievement to show other kids what was possible.

"We need to celebrate the wins that we can because these positive interactions and engagement with community are the things that are going to assist reconnection with community for some of these kids," he said.

Mr Mackenzie said the program would continue to look for other ways to engage young people.

"I've got kids at Broome Senior — they all know the song, so it's not only the kids that are involved," he said.

"It's breaking through that small town mentality — we can do anything here and that's exciting."